Stasi records held in various regional Stasi offices were largely destroyed in 1989 as the GDR was transformed into a re-unified part of the Federal German Republic. Nevertheless, many records remain, and amongst these documents and artefacts are records of Stasi activities and procedures that may provide a wealth of insight into the “Grufti” scene.

Typically, “Gruftis” were perceived as anti-social and anathema to the GDR philosophy of Socialist labour oriented integration into a common society. Perceived as such, they were persecuted, spied on and treated with deep suspicion by the Stasi who appear to have been determined to extract a clear understanding of what sort of threat the “Gruftis” posed.

The Goth scene today is a thriving subculture in Germany, and in many countries around the world. Having originated in the United Kingdom as a disassociated, non-violent, non-political music and fashion subculture, it was adopted, through its primarily melancholy music style and dark/black fashion statements (generating the term “Darkwave”) by many disaffected and frustrated youths in the GDR in lieu of violent or politicised protest.